First, things first: read the following article that appeared in the September 11th issue of the Rocky Mountain News. Then come back to me.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_recreation/article/0,2777,DRMN_23950_5694907,00.html

Yep. I know, I know. So, here's my letter to the editor in reply. My response is pretty lengthy, which may be why it's never printed, but I will still hold out hope and give them the benefit of the doubt that they just might run it. If after reading Acord's article you feel you have something to say about it, I would strongly encourage you to let your voice be heard:

Letters to the Editor
Rocky Mountain News
101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 500,
Denver, CO 80202
Fax:
(303) 954-2568
E-mail:
letters@RockyMountainNews.com


Letter to the Editor in response to Deb Acord's story "So long, flatlanders in flip-flops." that ran in Denver's Rocky Mountain News on September 11, 2007.

Wow. I don't really know where to begin. I mean, I could take the path of "you elitist snob, you really woke up on the wrong side of the bed when you wrote this story." But that would be too easy. So I'm searching for a higher ground, comments that will serve a greater purpose and inspire people to adopt a new frame of mind toward visitors to our regions, oh, I'm sorry, "flatlanders in flip-flops" and purge these toxic words from Ms. Acord out of their minds.

The remarks Ms. Acord make are just plain mean, totally uncalled for, and completely void of any positive purpose other than to make fun of people in a really snobby way. I don't care if you are visiting Colorado, California, Florida or Alaska, vacationing is an experience that is a combination of joy and frustration. Here's a thought Deb...why didn't you talk to the couple at the summit of Pikes Peak and offer a kind word of sympathy and offer some suggestions to them for what they might want to do once back in the city? You said you didn't even know if they made their way down. Now that's compassionate.

Ms. Acord talks about visitor behavior with such contempt, I wonder if she has any sense of pride in the fact that people choose our region from literally hundreds of locations they could have visited and spent their money, money which we need in order to keep our economy strong and healthy. Honestly, who gives a darn what they are wearing on their feet? These people are doing their best to be comfortable in Colorado, a place they probably have never been before, and to chastise them for having a sunburn, a temper and poor footwear makes me think perhaps Ms. Acord has never been on a vacation where she was just a little bit out of her element.

I am in the business of tourism...you know...the industry that is warm, kind, friendly, offers a helping hand or suggestions, and is genuinely glad to see someone from out of town enjoying our beautiful area. Maybe, Ms. Acord should focus less of people's feet and more on their faces and how she could, oh, I don't know, maybe help someone by being be a goodwill ambassador for our region instead of writing articles like this one that just scream "GO AWAY, TOURISTS! YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BROACH OUR DOORSTEPS WITH YOUR FLIP-FLOPS AND FANNYPACKS. EWWW!"

And you know what? Maybe, just maybe, it truly WAS the "Best Day Ever" for these folks, but no thanks to people like Ms. Acord.

I am a proud Coloradoan, and Ms. Acord does NOT speak for me, and probably not for a lot of other Colorado residents as well. I welcome anyone who wants to come here and visit us wearing high heels, flip-flops, tennis shoes, moccasins, whatever. Heck, we'll even provide the sunscreen.

By the way...I practically live in my flip-flops. Does that mean I'm a flatlander?